On January 1, 2026, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) licensed six new ISPs to operate.
This move raised the total number of active ISPs in the country to 231.
New Entrants Shake The Market
Meanwhile, mobile operators like MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile continue cutting retail data prices aggressively.
At the same time, satellite providers, led by Starlink, lure customers with faster and wider coverage.
The new entrants include Intellvision, Granet, Fiber Sonic, Dasol, Boost ISP, and Amazon Kuiper.
Importantly, five of the six ISPs set up operations in Lagos, while one chose Owerri in Imo State.
Challenges For Small ISPs
As a result, most ISPs concentrate around Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, leaving rural areas underserved.
Consequently, small ISPs struggle to compete with the scale and investment power of larger operators.
Chidi Ibisi of Broadbased Communications explained that smaller ISPs need fair opportunities to survive.
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He warned that dominant operators might edge out smaller rivals through sheer capital and nationwide reach.
Similarly, FibreOne’s Kehinde Joda highlighted that many ISPs still sell basic internet access only.
He stressed that innovation involves designing packages, managing customers, and adapting to changing needs.
Moreover, deploying and maintaining fibre networks remains costly, favouring capital-rich, urban-focused operators.
Rising Competition And Opportunities
Since Starlink entered in 2023, it quickly attracted customers to become Nigeria’s second-largest ISP.
Now, Amazon Kuiper competes directly with Starlink, promising faster deployment and broader satellite coverage.
The NCC welcomes satellite providers to meet rising demand in underserved, hard-to-reach areas.
However, market concentration remains high, with Spectranet, Starlink, and FibreOne controlling most active customers.
As the NCC issues new licences, competition in Nigeria’s ISP market will intensify further.
Ultimately, consumers gain faster internet and more choices, but small ISPs face intense survival pressures.
